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The goal of your skincare routine is to pave the way to better skin–not make things worse. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for skincare and routines should vary from person to person depending on what you’re working to treat, so whether you’re struggling with acne or wrinkles, it’s important to customize products to fit your own goals. However, there’s one product in most lineups that dermatologists warn could actually be damaging your skin.
According to dermatologists, you should be weary of using toner in your skincare routine, particularly alcohol based variants. Especially if you aren’t suffering from oily skin, alcohol based toners could actually be drying you out further and moving you away from glowy, hydrated skin. NYC dermatologist Dr. Hadley King explains, “Toners that are high in alcohol content can dry out the skin and should be avoided if you don’t have very oily skin. They can also lead to irritation.”
Dr. Howard Sobel, founder of Sobel Skin and Attending Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York warns, “Toners are often unnecessary and can do more harm than good by drying out skin and stripping it. You should talk to your dermatologist and see if they would recommend skipping toner or astringents in your routine.” While toner can be beneficial for oily or acne prone skin, it’s important to tailor your skincare routine to your needs instead of adding products for the sake of it.
If you do have dry skin and are still interested in incorporating a toner into your routine, King recommends searching for an alcohol-free variant such as the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner. “For dry and sensitive or combination skin types, this alcohol-free toner hydrates with hyaluronic acid and soothes with rose water and rose flower oil. And it’s fun to use because you can see the real rose petals floating in the solution,” she says.
In order for your skincare routine to work, it’s imperative that you choose products that will help you to reach your goals and enhance the skin texture you’re working with. Alcohol based toners on the whole will do more harm than good, so seek out hydrating products that will improve your complexion in order to achieve the best version of your skin.
